Originally Posted by Craig Vernon (Post 2290336)

I have been interested in TV for several years and have been keeping a tally of available homes on a weekly basis for more than two years. I know my life is exciting and I need a better hobby. Currently as of 1-12-24 homes available for sale have reached a higher level than I have ever recorded and is growing quickly. Zillow 443 total listings/VLS preowned 492/VLS new 445.

Originally Posted by MightyDog (Post 2290580)

I close here and move down to rent for a bit so, I can be local when I'm buying which I find to be the much preferred way for a variety of good reasons.

Originally Posted by Robbb (Post 2290492)

Ths point is last year this time there were app 300 homes for sale, today over 1,200. The end is coming.

Originally Posted by Craig Vernon (Post 2290336)

I have been interested in TV for several years and have been keeping a tally of available homes on a weekly basis for more than two years. I know my life is exciting and I need a better hobby. Currently as of 1-12-24 homes available for sale have reached a higher level than I have ever recorded and is growing quickly. Zillow 443 total listings/VLS preowned 492/VLS new 445.

Originally Posted by Garywt (Post 2290588)

You have to remember that today there are more homes in the Villages than ever before so it makes sense that there would be more homes for sale. Anyone looking should be able to find what they want. Interesting that there are over 400 new homes for sale giving not long ago there were lotteries just for people to put a deposit down and now over 400 new homes for sale, different times.

Originally Posted by RICH1 (Post 2290633)

INSURANCE RATES AND TAXES are running people out! Nobody's wants in either...

Originally Posted by Craig Vernon (Post 2290336)

I have been interested in TV for several years and have been keeping a tally of available homes on a weekly basis for more than two years. I know my life is exciting and I need a better hobby. Currently as of 1-12-24 homes available for sale have reached a higher level than I have ever recorded and is growing quickly. Zillow 443 total listings/VLS preowned 492/VLS new 445.

Originally Posted by Laker14 (Post 2290447)

you will never know the exact perfect time to buy until it has passed.

Originally Posted by Babubhat (Post 2290490)

Meaningless statistic. So many south of 44 flippers asking absurd prices

Originally Posted by RICH1 (Post 2290633)

INSURANCE RATES AND TAXES are running people out! Nobody's wants in either...

Originally Posted by MrChip72 (Post 2290797)

For most of 2023, many people were delaying selling until interest rates started backing down and resale prices were stabilizing. It seems like that time is now.

At the very least, average time on the market is a better indicator of what's going on than number of homes on the market.

Originally Posted by asianthree (Post 2290520)

So not really much of a change considering how many homes are closing per month. But my suggestion to separate stats per village may help your research for a new home. Stats are great, but in the long run, you really need to make decisions on what home you want, do you want a new home or a preowned.

In 07 houses were selling before final touches were in place. Why because rumor was it was the end. Well that didn’t happen. In 2010 we bought in Pennacamp, basically 90% of this site told us we were so stupid buying so close to end of TV we would never sell. Took 15 days to sell,

Then we bought in Fernandina, again many on this site couldn’t believe we were buying so far far away from a town square. Sold that house in 5 days. Due to wanting a larger garage, we moved to a preowned near Seabreeze. Loved the house but not the location. However in 2014 didn’t want to move farther south, because my mom’s family was 3 minutes from that house.

A year before Richmond was a twinkling to residents we knew that was where we wanted to build. Yes we have a turnpike 3 streets over, and the normal amount of rentals that every new village has due to flippers.

But when we choose to move from LSL area, for this last house we made a why and why not list.
1. how many times into SS…three times a year.
2. How many times into LSL which was 12 minutes away….about 6 times a year.
3. How many times into Brownwood area 20 minutes away once a week.

So our determination on the fourth house was about would the lot fit our house and still leave room for a pool. Did it have a view out back, and how close to turnpike so we could quickly get on for travel to Gainesville, Orlando, and Disney.

Not at any time was what homes were selling, and where, or the cost of homes Our need for certain things is what made the final decision.

Sometimes all the planning and stats can go right out the window when you find what will work for you. As you can see we have lived in multiple areas of TV, No attachment to any house. I really think coming here and staying in multiple areas might change your entire strategy

Originally Posted by Altavia (Post 2290911)

Maybe the precast walls construction accelerated building new home construction inventory.


Also, the very limited customization options have kept potential buyers from building new.

Originally Posted by Randall55 (Post 2290954)

Possibly. But new frame homes are also sitting. I received an updated list of new homes that have reduced prices. The count is now 200+. About a month ago, 75 new construction homes had a discounted price.

I agree with the posters on this thread. It is not a good to buy. It is anyone's guess what will happen in the next few months.

Originally Posted by Laker14 (Post 2291008)

Unless your intention is flipping, why wait? We aren't getting any younger.

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2291041)

If you are looking for an exact time, you would need data in retrospect. Since we don’t have that, you need to examine the market and its tendencies. The market IS by ALL indicators still trending downward. Why buy when in essence you are losing money?

Just look at the local market here! More than 70% of homes last month were purchased BELOW ASKING. Look at The Villages new home prices, or perhaps their lot prices. View lots in Moultrie are down 40%. It’s a buyers market officially this month.

Yes, if you just want to burn money, buy. If not, it may be best to wait till the bottom hits.

Examining forces on price are the key to determining local market values: Mortgage rates, building costs, inventory, regulation, future costs including annual taxes, location and comparable comps are the tip of the iceberg. They are influenced by the more macroeconomic engines such as treasury note pricing , hourly wages, shadowed property values, local annexations and even square footage pricing on pre owned homes.

Then there is the entire demand side which is changing constantly. Inflation has made higher prices unaffordable PARTICULARLY in the Villages. The purchasing demographic are or will be forecasted to retire on a median fixed income. The number has decreased for this group significantly as indicated by employment of those once retired but now forced to work.

RETIREMENT IS THE SINGLE LARGEST FINANCIAL MOVE IN LIFE, followed by…you guessed it, BUYING a HOME.

Originally Posted by MX rider (Post 2291111)

I agree with Laker14. Nobody really knows what the home market will do, same as the stock market. Unless you're flipping, who cares?

If you're newly retired and want a home, buy it. You could spend the rest of your life waiting for the " right time".
Tomorrow isn't guaranteed, and I've known too many people who never even made it to retirement. One of my best friends just lost his 45 year old daughter to cancer. Time isn't on our side.

Whats the point of waiting for anything at this point in our lives? Live for today. Worrying too much about the future at this point is fools gold, imo.

Luckily we bought our home 2 years ago and we just retired last fall. But when we did buy, we were less concerned with it being the "right time" and more concerned about finding the right home here in TV.

We could care less what our house is worth. We're too busy having fun, staying active and enjoying life here. Which is exactly how we planned to spend our retirement.

We're not well off, but financially we're fine. So we'll just continue on living the dream in this great community. All the things we can't control will take care of themselves.

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2291041)

If you are looking for an exact time, you would need data in retrospect. Since we don’t have that, you need to examine the market and its tendencies. The market IS by ALL indicators still trending downward. Why buy when in essence you are losing money?

Just look at the local market here! More than 70% of homes last month were purchased BELOW ASKING. Look at The Villages new home prices, or perhaps their lot prices. View lots in Moultrie are down 40%. It’s a buyers market officially this month.

Yes, if you just want to burn money, buy. If not, it may be best to wait till the bottom hits.

Examining forces on price are the key to determining local market values: Mortgage rates, building costs, inventory, regulation, future costs including annual taxes, location and comparable comps are the tip of the iceberg. They are influenced by the more macroeconomic engines such as treasury note pricing , hourly wages, shadowed property values, local annexations and even square footage pricing on pre owned homes.

Then there is the entire demand side which is changing constantly. Inflation has made higher prices unaffordable PARTICULARLY in the Villages. The purchasing demographic are or will be forecasted to retire on a median fixed income. The number has decreased for this group significantly as indicated by employment of those once retired but now forced to work.

RETIREMENT IS THE SINGLE LARGEST FINANCIAL MOVE IN LIFE, followed by…you guessed it, BUYING a HOME.

Originally Posted by Randall55 (Post 2291135)

If you already have a home, I agree. If you have not retired and are still looking, it is a different story. The developer cannot keep building if his inventory is not moving. Does this mean he will sell some of his land to other builders? If so, what will be built? Or, will he just slow the pace? If he chooses this route, commercial will suffer. You can't open a store, restaurant, or medical facility if there are not enough customers. Will construction workers be forced to leave the area? This will harm the community, as well.

Or, will home prices go down to a level that brings buyers' interest? This means one can save a wad of money and enjoy a better retirement. More money in the bank makes living the dream much easier.

I get it. What I have stated are EXTREME cases. But, with hundreds of homes and lots sitting, what can the developer do? Keep building and go deeper into the red?

For those who have not bought a home, looking at other options or waiting is probably a good idea.

Originally Posted by Craig Vernon (Post 2290336)

I have been interested in TV for several years and have been keeping a tally of available homes on a weekly basis for more than two years. I know my life is exciting and I need a better hobby. Currently as of 1-12-24 homes available for sale have reached a higher level than I have ever recorded and is growing quickly. Zillow 443 total listings/VLS preowned 492/VLS new 445.

Originally Posted by MX rider (Post 2291111)

Tomorrow isn't guaranteed, and I've known too many people who never even made it to retirement.

We could care less what our house is worth. We're too busy having fun, staying active and enjoying life here. Which is exactly how we planned to spend our retirement.

We're not well off, but financially we're fine. So we'll just continue on living the dream in this great community.

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2290899)

It appears your strategy works well for you but not everyone has unlimited funds so there are many areas in The Villages that work well for people within a budget.

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2291147)

I concur for your situation. I certainly feel for your friends’ loss. But every situation is complicated and different.

What the OP and all potential buyers should know is it isn’t a cheap free windfall blissful move to just pick up and live here. Taxes on property can be fairly high. The cost of living in Florida rivals more than half the states in the US (ranked 21). Insurance and utilities are higher than most. The old fallacy of (No income tax) is certainly countered by many other expenses.

For you and I it is affordable, but some I know have to work just to stay here. They moved into the Villages retired, but now work to make ends meet. Magical fairy dust didn’t fall from the sky and bless them with gold paved roads. You can thank the economy for that.

We should all want everyone happy and satisfied when they move here just like we are. The reality is many can’t afford it and this is no financial promised land for those contemplating a financial decision without money to burn. If someone buys that can’t afford it later on, it weighs on all of us.

I hope the best for those still dreaming and hope their lives are filled with happiness wherever they move. Risking finances shouldn’t be anyone’s thought. If it is, please don’t buy here.

Originally Posted by Randall55 (Post 2290954)

Possibly. But new frame homes are also sitting. I received an updated list of new homes that have reduced prices. The count is now 200+. About a month ago, 75 new construction homes had a discounted price.

I agree with the posters on this thread. It is not a good to buy. It is anyone's guess what will happen in the next few months.

Originally Posted by asianthree (Post 2291167)

But are your thoughts about not a good time to buy because you are a contractor and flip houses?
You have bought and sold, and are now in a rental and isn’t your spouse in real estate?

So are views of not a good time to buy, for potential new buyers or as an investment buyer?

Originally Posted by asianthree (Post 2291167)

But are your thoughts about not a good time to buy because you are a contractor and flip houses?
You have bought and sold, and are now in a rental and isn’t your spouse in real estate?

So are views of not a good time to buy, for potential new buyers or as an investment buyer?

Originally Posted by Randall55 (Post 2291135)

If you already have a home, I agree. If you have not retired and are still looking, it is a different story. The developer cannot keep building if his inventory is not moving. Does this mean he will sell some of his land to other builders? If so, what will be built? Or, will he just slow the pace? If he chooses this route, commercial will suffer. You can't open a store, restaurant, or medical facility if there are not enough customers. Will construction workers be forced to leave the area? This will harm the community, as well.

Originally Posted by Papa_lecki (Post 2291493)

Another post that the Developer is not going to survive.
First, the developer bought most of the land when rates were at 2 or 3%.

Originally Posted by asianthree (Post 2291155)

You missed the point of the post. Comparing prices, and area may or may not be your determining factor. One should look for a home and area that will work for them. When someone says don’t buy in that village is their opinion, and may be the right choice for you.

Post was about we purchased in two areas that everyone said was worst financial decision, because of the area and never recoup original investment. Just pointing out not only did homes sell quickly but substantial profits involved.

Had nothing to do with unlimited funds, but smart financial decisions

Originally Posted by Randall55 (Post 2291222)

Yes. I am a contractor/flipper. We sold and left the southern section because it did not fit our needs. At this time, we are currently renting a home in the Northern section of the Villages. We are looking to buy a preowned home that I will remodel to suit us. This will be our forever home. We experimented and enjoyed our adventures but it is time to settle down.

This is the first time in 18 yrs of living here that we are skeptical about the Villages' real estate. Both of us see many red flags that were not present in years past. We are trying our best to avoid pitfalls. As several posters stated, everyone should look at their own situation and do what is best for them.

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2291512)

Your homes sold quickly because of a hot market fueled by free mortgage money. As it goes, we noted our homes sold in TV did so quickly for the same reasons your’s did, including many upgrades that were made.

Times are different and if purchasing now, we would definitely temper our choices based on area stability and cost. That’s how we made money in the past and came out ahead of the game. If money is no issue, buy whatever, wherever and don’t look back.

Originally Posted by Normal (Post 2291508)

What poster ever said the Developer will never survive?

First, this OP is posting about a surplus of inventory, which there is
Second, the Developer makes the most revenue with Citizens First and sales transactions (loss or gain).
Third, you suggest any of the land was bought at a certain interest rate?

Clueless comes to mind

Originally Posted by Rainger99 (Post 2290439)

I expect that millions of people living up north are going to consider moving to Florida after this weekend! YIKES!

http://hp2.wright-weather.com/icons/us_chill.gif